Research shows that about 40% of teens report experiencing little or no sense of purpose or meaning in life, which is consistently associated with elevated anxiety, depression, and disengagement at school. Purpose development is strongly correlated with academic motivation, resilience, psychological well-being, and long-term employment outcomes.

Who can join?

Any U.S.-based high school that would like to use new resources from Making Caring Common to foster meaning and purpose. We’re looking for schools that have NO active purpose-fostering intervention or set of resources.

What is required

We are still finalizing the pilot plan and will share more details in the coming months, but all participating schools will be asked to:

• Identify a School Champion: a school administrator, leader, counselor or teacher who will guide the work at your school and who will communicate with MCC about implementation at your school.

• Implement one of three new MCC resources with high school students.

  • Purpose mentoring program —Staff mentors will be matched with students who self identify as having low purpose or needing a mentor to support their purpose journey and career planning.

  • Peer led, large group purpose program — A group of student leaders will lead whole-school purpose and career exploration events where multi-age groups of students will reflect, discuss, and create together. School adults will help them prepare and manage these events, but students will lead all activities.

  • Educator led, purpose advisory program — Educators will lead students through a series of purpose and career exploration activities during student advisory.

• Have all students, and some teachers, at your school complete a pre and post survey to measure impact and join a focus group (October 2026 and April of 2027)

Participating schools will receive

• New meaning and purpose resources from MCC

• A step-by-step guide to support implementation at your school

• Support from the MCC team

• Up to $1,000 to thank your School Champion for leading the work and communicating throughout the year with MCC

• $50 for select students and educators who participate in an end-of-year focus group

• $25 for select educators who complete a survey